Probyn: Players should use common sense

You don't need a code of conduct to tell you that you shouldn't be in a pub or inviting girls back to your room at 4am - if you are, it's going to be in the news.

Jeff Probyn.
Quotes of the week

Former England prop Jeff Probyn told Sky Sports News he was disappointed by the decision to bind players by a new code of conduct following their ill-fated tour of New Zealand.

The Rugby Football Union has confirmed that strict new guidelines, including a ban on players bringing women back to their hotel rooms, will come into force on July 1.

The move comes after four unnamed England players were accused of a serious sexual assault - an incident which is alleged to have occurred in the team's Auckland hotel just hours after their 37-20 defeat to the All Blacks.

But Probyn believes the code is unnecessary, and thinks players should be professional enough to draw on common sense alone.

"Personally, I don't think it's necessary," Probyn said of the new set of standards.

"These are adults; professional sportsmen. They understand the rules and regulations, and the pitfalls of life just as they are when you're not involved in the England rugby team.

"If you are involved in the England rugby team, or any national side, and you're touring abroad, you're going to be under the spotlight. If one or two players do something stupid, you're going to be picked up for it.

"It's pretty obvious you don't need a code of conduct to tell you that you shouldn't be in a pub or inviting girls back to your room at 4am - that's standard practice - so if you are, it's going to be in the news.

"Why risk embarrassing yourself, your friends, your team and your nation?"

Responsibility

Former England coach Dick Best defended the RFU and conceded that the onus was on new boss Martin Johnson to clamp down on players' behaviour.

"Maybe you do need to put a code of conduct in place," Best admitted.

"There's a multitude of things players need to embrace - responsibility to the public, to sponsors and so on.

"Martin Johnson is not the sort of bloke you argue with in the first place - he'll say: 'Look, if you want to be involved in my England squad, these are the rules on and off the field'.

"Clive Woodward did it with his group of players and they went on to win the World Cup."

But Probyn insisted it was crucial for players to take responsibility for their own actions - and hinted that attitude would be a key consideration ahead of Martin Johnson's first performance squad selection.

"It's ultimately down to the players to govern themselves," Probyn added.

"Johnson needs to pick experience, and the young guys who will stand up and be counted."